How to Play

0. Look over game info and select characters

1. Skim through this packet to get a feel for the gameplay
2. Lay the map down on the table where everyone can see it
3. Choose characters and take the appropriate handouts (no peeking at the others!)

1. Opening phase (~15 minutes)

Read through your character handouts. Once everyone is finished, read the prologue (page 5 of
this packet) out loud together.

2. Investigations
During the investigation phases, you draw cards with clues on them. There are three of these in
the game.

Step-by-step
1. Lay out the cards for the current investigation location(s), face-down.
2. Determine investigation order.
a. At the start of an investigation phase, everyone rolls a die.
b. Dice are rerolled with each investigation.
c. The third investigation has two rounds; do the second in opposite order as the
first.
3. Each player will draw a card on their turn.
a. No player is ever required to show a card to anyone else.
b. Cards can be revealed at any time during discussion phases.

About the cards

1. You cannot pick up a card with your own name on it unless it's the last one available and
you have no other choice.
2. Anything you see on a card can be assumed to be true.
3. Some cards have stars on them. These are used for scoring and do not exist
in-universe.
a. In other words, while you can ask players to show you their cards (e.g. "show me
what you found on the side table"), you cannot specify that you want a card with
a star on it.
4. When a player chooses to reveal a card, they must reveal that card to everyone.
a. Revealed cards remain face-up on the table for anyone to look at.

3. Discussions
Discussion phases occur directly after investigation phases.

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 ● The time table shows how long discussions should last. Set a timer.
○ You can extend it if all parties agree, but the timer keeps the game moving
quickly and ensures that all players have a good chance to hide their secrets.
● There are no private conversations in this game. If you have something to say, you'll
have to say it in front of everyone.
● Cards may be revealed at any time up until the vote.
○ You can ask other players to reveal cards, but don't pressure them if they refuse.
Once a card is in a player's possession, whether or not they decide to reveal it is
completely up to them.

4. The Final Vote

Once all discussions are over, the group will make two votes:

1. Who is the ghostwriter? The options are:

a. Shuichi Henno
b. Yoshimi Henno
c. Ryuta Tomozaki
d. Outside party (Someone not present)
e. There is no ghostwriter
2. Who is the killer? The options are:
a. Shuichi Henno
b. Yoshimi Henno
c. Ryuta Tomozaki
d. Yusaku Sakaguchi (Suicide)
e. Outside party (Someone not present)
f. No one (It was an accident)

5. Score Calculation
Once both votes are locked in, the subjects of those votes should honestly admit whether or not
the vote was correct. If the vote was incorrect, any lying parties can reveal themselves at this
point.

After that, all players calculate their own scores (be sure to check with one another if you're
unsure whether you've met a goal). Draw the appropriate ending card and check against your
score to see your character's ending.

6. Endings
Going from the highest score to the lowest of the living characters, then ending with
Sakaguchi, each player reads out their ending card. The card will tell you what state of mind
your character is in after the end of the game. Once you've read from your card, tell the group
what your character plans on doing next.

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Basic Guidelines
● Throughout the game, all players are allowed – and in some cases, encouraged – to lie.
● While the character handouts are in first-person, try not to read directly from them. It's
recommended to paraphrase what you have learned in character.
● Each character has scored goals. You can score between 0 and 20 depending on how
well you fulfill your character's objectives, and your score will affect the ending for your
character.
○ While pursuing your in-character goals, remember that having fun with the other
players is the most important goal!

Time Table

Section Section Contents Time

Opening Phase Characters read their individual information 15 min

1st Investigation Draw cards from the dining area (4 cards) -

1st discussion Discuss 5 min

2nd Investigation Draw from the living room & personal -

belongings (8 cards available, but draw 4)

2nd discussion Discuss 10 min

3rd Investigation Draw from the above + study (4 leftover cards -

from the previous round plus 4 new cards)

3rd discussion Discuss 10 min

Voting Phase Vote 5 min

Score Calculation Confirm goal achievement 5 min

Ending Phase Receive goal outcomes and roleplay 3 minutes

each (~12
minutes)

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Prologue
Sakaguchi residence, living room.

In contrast to the noisy dining room (the scene of the incident) a heavy silence hangs over the
living room where you, the witnesses (suspects) have been gathered.

Novelist Yusaku Sakaguchi died suddenly. Three people witnessed this event: Shuichi Henno,
his editor, Yoshimi Henno, Shuichi's younger sister and fan of Sakaguchi's work, and Ryuta
Tomozaki, Sakaguchi's friend and fellow writer. You're currently waiting to be interviewed by the
police.

Shuichi: "Seriously, how could this happen? If only I hadn't made him host this party…"
Yoshimi: "I know how you feel, Shuichi, but we all need to stay calm…"
Ryuta: "Is it just me, or do the EMTs and police not see him?"

As Ryuta speaks, all three of them turn toward the sofa. A fourth person is sitting there, staring
into the middle distance. Ironically, out of all of them, Yusaku Sakaguchi's expression is the one
most evocative of the phrase, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Sakaguchi: "Don't you think the person most qualified to ask 'how could this happen?'... is me?"

Sakaguchi's body is translucent, revealing the pattern of the wallpaper behind him. He took his
last breath a few hours ago, and his body was sent for an autopsy, yet here he is, sitting on the
couch.

There's no denying the fact that he is a ghost.

Ryuta: "Yeah, good point. With your body like that… or, uh, not like that, as it were."
Yoshimi: "If you're a ghost, does that mean you have a lingering attachment to this world?"
Shuichi: "You must want to reveal the truth of your death!"
Sakaguchi: "I don't know why I'm a ghost. How should I know?"

Sakaguchi lets out a deep sigh. He stands up slowly and looks between the three faces.

Sakaguchi: "...But it would be a good idea for us to talk about it. It's not like we have anything
better to do while you're waiting for the lead detective. We may not know much, but let's think it
through together."

Sakaguchi: "Why did I die?"

And so the four of you begin to talk it through, relaying your memories of the evening, the
incident, and scraps of information overheard from the investigators.

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Location (Common Knowledge)
The dinner party was held at Sakaguchi's home: a one-story house.
● Dining Room
○ Main party venue. There's food on the table and alcoholic beverages on a side
table.
● Living Room
○ A room adjacent to the dining room. Your belongings were left here.
○ The door to the dining room was open, but the lights were turned off during the
party, so it was dark inside.
○ There's a wooden deck outside.
● Study
○ Sakaguchi's work room and bedroom.